Latest Postshttp://www.mandymortimer.com/latest-posts/en-GB2012-02-14T05:13:56ZSquarespace Site Server v5.11.81 (http://www.squarespace.com/)The End of Another Yearhttp://www.mandymortimer.com/latest-posts/the-end-of-another-year.htmlMandyM2011-12-27T12:04:35ZBaked Baked Cocktail Cupcake Sweet Vegetarian agar agar jello shot jelly shot

It's the last week of 2011 and what a busy year it's been!

I'd hoped to post more regularly, but alas, with the business of work and life, I didn't. I'm not going to promise that my recipe output will be ten fold in 2012, but I will say that I hope that you still enjoy reading about my baking antics for another year. Hopefully a little bit more of a relaxed year, I think we all deserve a break!

Strawberry Daiquiri cupcakes with a difference

So to bring in the new year, I hope you enjoy spiking some cupcakes with real boozey jelly shots, what I think is a completely new twist on the cocktail themed cupcake. Make strawberry daiquiri, flirtini, cosmopolitan or any other of your favourite cocktails in cupcake form.

Bottom's up and I hope you have a wonderful 2012.

Follow link for the recipe

Flirtini cupcake spiked with a pineapple, vodka and Cointreau jelly shot

]]>Ready for Dessert?http://www.mandymortimer.com/latest-posts/ready-for-dessert.htmlMandyM2011-11-07T11:30:00ZCookbook David Lebovitz My Bookshelf Review Review giveawayActually, just Ready for Dessert.

I have David Lebovitz's new book on my shelf. Filled with cakes, desserts, ice-creams, sauces, preserves and much more, Ready for Dessert is a mix of recipes now tweaked and adjusted from his previous recipe books as well as new recipes that are David's tried and trusted (and favourite!).

It's well worth a spot on your bookshelf, and luckily I have one copy to give away.

If you want to stand the chance of winning yourself Ready for Dessert, read my review on this fantastic new book.

Follow this link to the review and giveaway

]]>Fantastic Fast Food...http://www.mandymortimer.com/latest-posts/fantastic-fast-food.htmlMandyM2011-09-27T12:35:12ZBeef Burger Egg Free Garlic Hamburger Mint Parsley Quick Quick Savoury... and I'm not talking about greasy mass produced fast food. This is fast food at home.

Burgers take about 20mins to make from beginning to end, and home made, they taste way better than any fast food burger!

Juicy beef pattie, tasty toppings, soft roll, what's not to love about a hamburger?

Click for full recipe

]]>Ice-cream! (And a giveaway)http://www.mandymortimer.com/latest-posts/ice-cream-and-a-giveaway.htmlMandyM2011-09-01T09:01:57ZDavid Lebovitz Ice-cream No Bake Review Review Rum Raisin Sweet Vanilla giveawayTrust me to post a review on an ice-cream book in one of the coldest weeks we've had in Ireland this summer. Typical. But I'm sure there are plenty enjoying the full heat of summer, and in fact, it's now officially Spring in the Southern hemisphere, so happy Spring Day!

I now finally have a copy of David Lebovitz's The Perfect Scoop, I've been meaning to get this book for a while, it just has such a good reputation all round for its recipes that I knew I'd need to add it to my bookshelf.

Follow this link to read the full review.

Also, I've included two recipes. One for David's vanilla ice-cream and the other is rum raisin ice-cream, one of my favourite flavours.

And finally, one person will be winning their own copy of The Perfect Scoop, the details are at the end of the review.

Enjoy!

]]>Ulmond or Allmond?http://www.mandymortimer.com/latest-posts/ulmond-or-allmond.htmlMandyM2011-08-26T09:17:28ZAlmond Almond paste No Bake Sweet almond cakeI think I say the word "almond" differently each time. I know my husband sometimes thinks I'm hilarious in the way I say it. Whatever. Potato, pitato.

Besides, who cares how you say it when all you need to know is that almonds are needed for almond paste which is an essential ingredient in the best almond cake I've every had.

When I decided to try out the world's best almond cake* ever, I was a little annoyed to find it needed something called almond paste. And that I couldn't find almond paste anywhere. And that it's NOT the same as marzipan.

I decided to see if I could make it myself, having visions of complicated methods that would take hours to do.

I was so happy to discover that it's easier to make than toast and only requires three ingredients. w00t!

So, here is a recipe for almond paste so that you too can eat the best almond cake ever. I mean it. I LOVE carrot cake, but this almond cake is very close to stealing its spot on my cake love list.

Click here for the almond paste recipe and link to David Lebovitz's almond cake

Almond paste

nom nom nom

*It is in fact impossible for me to say that it is the best ever in the world as I have yet to travel every inch of the world, but for now in my world, it is the best according to me. And Andrew.

]]>New On My Bookshelf!http://www.mandymortimer.com/latest-posts/new-on-my-bookshelf.htmlMandyM2011-08-02T08:50:27ZCookbook French Review ReviewI have a new addition to my ever growing collection of cookbooks, and it's not something I'd ever have thought I would own. You see, when I think of this cuisine, I think of slaving for hours to make minute portions that you need to plate using tweezers.

If you guessed French, you're spot on.

The nice surprise is that this book, French Kitchen by Serge Dansereau, is completely the opposite. It's about hearty home cooked meals that you'd typically find in someone's (French) home.

No frills or fuss, just tasty dishes made with fresh ingredients.

You'll find a few of the classics like Duck Confit and Créme Brulée, but that's just a tip of the iceburg for this book rammed with 230 recipes!

When you feel like a little bit of indulgence or want to serve your friends something extra special, thumb through these pages and you'll find more than enough to keep you occupied :)

Oh, and the photography? Beautiful!

Everything about this book is beautiful, definitely worth having on your bookshelf.

Click here to read the review

]]>Mmmm.... Brownies!http://www.mandymortimer.com/latest-posts/mmmm-brownies.htmlMandyM2011-06-14T07:21:13ZBaked Baked Brownie Chocolate Pecan Nuts Sweet SweetChewy, dense and delicous Pecan Nut Brownies with Chocolate Chunks, my first ever bit of dabbling with Brownies. And I tell ya, they were good! Easy too, which is always a bonus when making something so yummy that it'll fix your chocolate craving for the better part of a year ;)

Follow this link to the full post

I've also included June's desktop background download at the end of the Brownie post, hope you like it!

]]>A Masterclass from the Master & A Giveaway from Me!http://www.mandymortimer.com/latest-posts/a-masterclass-from-the-master-a-giveaway-from-me.htmlMandyM2011-05-23T10:00:39ZCakes Cookbook I Like I Like Mich Turner Review giveawayMich Turner, cake maker to the stars, creator of museum worthy cakes and, well, basically the cake queen, has a new book out!

I was happy to get my paws on one and tried out two of her cake recipes, Almond & Cherry & her Lucious Lemon. On top of what is amazingly tasty sponge on both counts was mascarpone frosting. Wow. So good!

And because her new book is about learning a few simple and not so simple tricks to make your baking look amazing, I also had a go at making gumpaste daffodils, with Mich Turner (in book form) showing me exactly how to do it.

]]>Chocolate. That is all.http://www.mandymortimer.com/latest-posts/chocolate-that-is-all.htmlMandyM2011-04-15T08:53:20ZBaked Brownie Cake Chocolate Mousse Chocolate Mousse Cake Chocolate Rose Cigarillo Mousse Sweet TrufflesI don't really need to say much more about this cake other than Chocolate. It's as simple as that. Well... "simple".

Chewy and dense brownie base, light and airy yet oh-so-decadent chocolate mousse filling, chocolate sponge on top smothered with ganache. The whole cake hugged and made pretty with milk chocolate cigarillos, Lindor truffles and white chocolate roses.

That is the chocolate mousse cake.

Simple!

Follow this link to the recipe

]]>Hot Cross Bunnies!http://www.mandymortimer.com/latest-posts/hot-cross-bunnies.htmlMandyM2011-04-04T09:31:01ZAll Spice Baked Bread Easter Hot Cross Buns Raisings Sultanas Yeast cinnamonYes, it's that time of the year again. It's Easter, and for food that means Spring lamb, chocolate eggs and Hot Cross Buns!

This recipe is so easy that I might be making them every weekend until my husband gives me pleading eyes for something new, lol :) A great recipe to start dabbling with the dreaded ingredient of yeast!

Pillowy soft buns lightly spiced and with juicy bits of sweetness from plump raising and sultanas. Eat them fresh out the oven or toasted and slathered with butter, this recipe is just amazing.

Follow link to the recipe

They're also the feature for this month's desktop background dowload. Scroll to the end of the Hot Cross Bun recipe to download

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